Friday, May 15, 2020
School Calendar Events:​​​

  • All SPS schools will remain closed through the end of the school year.
  • Mr. Laskowski will provide updates as he receives information.
  • Today (May 15): Green + White Day (Last day of Virtual Spirit Week)
  • Today (May 15): Lawn Sign Orders due today by 12pm
  • May 17: 8th Grade Parents responses due for t-shirt size
Class of 2020 Lawn Signs: Orders Due Today

Reminder:  Orders due TODAY BY 12pm for anyone who would like to purchase a lawn sign to support the Class of 2020!

You can purchase as many signs as you like for your yard or for family members and friends around town to show the love! These signs are being sold at cost, this is not a fundraiser .

Signs will be picked up at school and we will send an email once the printer delivers the signs to school for families to pickup. Questions with Venmo? Contact:  RippowamTreasurer@gmail.com

  • $13 per sign via Venmo @rippowampto
  • $13.95 via Paypal -Click Here (Paypal charges a processing fee which is included)
Attn: 8th Grade Parents: Your Response Needed

Our PTO and I have been in the process of planning how to celebrate our graduating 8th grade class and we have decided to give each 8th grade student a t-shirt celebrating them as a member of the Rippowam class of 2020 (this is only part of the celebration plan). In order for us to order the appropriate amount of shirts in each size, we have put together a short form to collect sizing information. 

Please click the link below to access the form:


It is important that you fill out the form by Sunday evening (5/17).

Best regards,

Matthew Laskowski
Principal
Weekly Updates from Mr. Laskowski

You can view Mr. Laskowski's updates from this week at the below link and also on the PTO Facebook page .

8th Grade Parent Update (Info also listed above)

YEARBOOKS

Hello Rippowam Families!

Yearbooks will be arriving in less than a month. I want to answer some questions that I have received.

1. If you ordered a yearbook you will get it!
2. If you didn’t order a yearbook- You can still order one! Price is still $40. There are only 54 extra yearbooks. Once they are sold out no more can be ordered.
3. Two ways to order. Click this link to be brought to the Josten’s website to order:


4. OR- use Venmo! The Rippowam PTO has set up a Venmo account for easy transactions. If you use this option please include the following information in the notes section: mention YEARBOOK, student’s first and last name AND grade. The Venmo handle is: @rippowampto
5. There are no gaps in the yearbook due to school being shut down. All photos needed were taken before we left school in March. The yearbook is designed online so everything was finished and submitted to Josten’s on time.
6. Mr. Laskowski and I will design a plan for pickup. More info to come!
7. There will be a virtual yearbook signing. More info to come!

Thank you! Ms. Chymbor

If you have any questions please email me at: schymbor@stamfordct.gov
Digital Learning

If you know of someone who does not have access to the internet please have them contact the main office at (203)977-5255.

Check  our website  for the latest updates with  Suggested Student Schedule  and  Google Classroom Codes to assist with digital learning from home.

For those who missed Mr. Laskowski's updates, you can find them posted to the  PTO FB page. Mr. Laskowski emailed them to all parents and the PTO also emailed them.
Google Classroom: Directions to Submit Work

School has received a few reports from students and teachers that there was an issue with work gone 'missing' - one explanation might be that it is not being submitted correctly.

To view directions how to submit correctly  CLICK HERE .
Mrs. Kousidis' Virtual Office Hours for Students

Greetings Rippowam Community! 

Starting on Monday, 4/20, I will be hosting daily office hours twice each day for students and/or parents. These 30-minute time slots are designated for technical support but please feel free to drop in just to say a quick hello, also :) 

*Please note the slight adjustment to the time for Session 1. 

  • Session 1: 9:00 - 9:30
  • Session 2: 11:30 - 12:00 
  • www.meet.google.com
  • Code: Kousidis-Corner-4U

Take good care and looking forward to seeing you! - Ellie Kousidis
Note from Ellie about Resources for Family Engagement from the Library of Congress: Whether for your classroom or for downtime at home, the " Resources for Family Engagement from the Library of Congress " promote engagement, curiosity, and hands on learning. This series is complete with read alouds, newsletters, and activity kits for the whole class or family.  
Wide Open School

Common Sense Media is a trusted resource for parents and teachers. Read below to find out how they are supporting our schools and our families with new resources as we all transition to distance learning.

Common Sense company is launching a brand-new, free online resource to support families and educators who are transitioning to remote learning as a result of the coronavirus: Wide Open School. Why? There are so many online resources to support kids' educational, emotional, and physical development that Common Sense editors are noticing yet another challenge for parents and educators: How can you find high-quality resources quickly, easily, and in one place?

Curated and coordinated by the experts at Common Sense, Wide Open School is the result of a collaboration among leading publishers, nonprofits, and education and technology companies. Wide Open School features a free collection of the best learning experiences and activities for kids, organized by grade band and subject. You will also find daily schedules with creative breaks and recommendations to keep kids engaged and exploring, one day (or one hour) at a time.

Wide Open School can only fulfill its mission if all kids and families can access it; Common Sense is committed to ensuring connectivity now. They will continue to offer guidance and support as you navigate privacy and safety in all you do online.

You can visit Wide Open School to take advantage of the best resources available for kids right now. Go to Wide Open School HERE
Ferguson Library eBooks

The Ferguson Library has given our students access to all eBooks in their library! The directions for accessing this amazing resource are found HERE

Huge thank you to Aemir Lopez for adding the Spanish translation!
Virtual Art Exhibit

LiveGirl will again partner with the Carriage Barn Arts Center for its third annual arts exhibit. This year’s curated exhibit, She Is Rising , is a celebration of women of various ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities – some captured from life, and others imagined – who represent female power in a myriad of manifestations. The exhibit features artwork by pop artist phenomenon Ashley Longshore, artist activist TL Duryea, and contemporary artist Michele Voight and will run May 27 – June 7 with a virtual gallery and in-person viewings by appointment. 
LiveGirl’s annual benefit will be held virtually on Sunday, May 31st from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and available at  https://golivegirl.org/2020-arts-showcase . The first 50 registrants will receive a free copy of “ The Myth  of  the Nice Girl,”  courtesy of New Canaan Youth and Family Services. This event is also proudly sponsored by Bankwell and JPM Private Bank. All artwork is available for sale at  https://carriagebarn.org/she-is-rising/  with proceeds benefiting the artists, the Carriage Barn, and LiveGirl.
​​PTO News

Thank you to everyone for your donations that helped us fund important events and mini-grants for the 2019 - 2020 school year! This year the PTO was able to fund special events and 13 teacher's mini-grants.

Looking Ahead:


Stay safe and be well!
Extra Bin is on it's Way!
We are adding an extra bin in the front! We are so happy that many families are using the Rippowam textile bins! Soon to be 3 bins in front and there are 2 bins in the back of school by Loveland Road.
Shop Amazon All Year
Amazon has a wonderful program called Amazon Smile where it donates .5% of purchases made to local charities and non-profits. Rippowam PTO is a designated non-profit on Amazon Smile. Please use the below link for your purchases and help support Rippowam PTO. 

RIPPOWAM MIDDLE SCHOOL www.RippowamIB.org